In a perfect world, we'd all plan or prep our balanced, whole-foods-based lunches and dinners every weekend. In reality, sometimes we only have the time and energy to meal prep for half the week, or we're just so damn overextended that we forget to go grocery shopping altogether. The fact is, life happens—and that's when having a stockpile of healthy frozen meals can be a lifesaver.

We're not talking about the rubbery, flavorless, nutritionally questionable frozen meals of yore either. The frozen meal category has come a long way in terms of taste and quality, with plenty of options that are free of preservatives, excessive sodium, and artificial ingredients. Even better, you don't have to leave your home to stock up.

Today, there are some great mail-order frozen meals for keto, paleo, vegan, and vegetarian dieters alike that you simply heat and eat when you're hungry. Bonus: We guarantee they are way healthier and less expensive than takeout. Here are five of our favorite options (all of which you can subscribe to for added convenience):

Good Stock soups

Good Stock makes a variety of gourmet soups that they freeze and ship to you—with a variety of dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and nut-free options to choose from. Mix and match from a selection that includes flavors like White Bean, Kale & Sausage and Lemony Chicken & Rice, or go with a themed pack like Eat Your Veggies featuring Carrot & Ginger, Lentil, Roasted Tomato, and Sweet Potato Turmeric soups. You can order just once or subscribe and save.

Daily Harvest bowls & smoothies

They may have started as a frozen, ready-to-blend smoothie subscription service, but Daily Harvest has expanded into full-blown meals with their nourishing, savory Harvest Bowls featuring a variety of plant-based goodies like veggies, grains, herbs, and spices that you simply heat up on the stovetop or microwave. One of our favorites: the Butternut Squash + Kale Shakshuka bowl. For an added dose of protein, and to make it a truly authentic shakshuka experience, add a fried egg.

Balanced Bites keto and paleo meals

These new Balanced Bites meals are the brainchild of Diane Sanfilippo, host of the popular Balanced Bites podcast and author of Practical Paleo and Keto Quick Start. Not surprisingly, BB offers a 10-meal keto bundle and a 10-meal paleo bundle with drool-worthy meals that are some of Diane's personal favorites, like Al Pastor Pork, featuring marinated pork shoulder served over cilantro cauliflower rice. Meals are made fresh weekly and shipped to you frozen.

Pete's Paleo

Pete's Paleo bases their meals on what farmers are growing right now. That's why their offerings change on a weekly basis. Opt for a predetermined bundle or choose your meals a la carte from options that are paleo, keto, low-FODMAP, and AIP friendly. You can expect deliciously satisfying options like Braised Brisket with Garlic Roasted Tomatoes, Spinach, and Butternut Squash. All meat is grass-fed and pastured, and all produce is organic or non-GMO.